Sometimes we look at sights in nature but don't really see. While hiking in the woods the other day, it became a realization that we need to open our heart and eyes to see the beauty of the simple things in nature with each season. There is so much order and purpose in His creation. God has given us awesome beauty in this world to see and enjoy... if we would but stop to see and feel it. Join us as this blog is about stopping to see the real beauty around us...to touch and feel it... "Through the Lens".

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Friday, April 29, 2011

What a difference a day makes or a few days for that matter! Wednesday we knew the huge weather system that was wrecking havoc in the mid section of the country was heading in our direction. We watched the weather channel and it appeared as though the worse part might be north of us. We watched cautiously.

Around 7:00 we began to see just how ominous this system moving toward us really was. We quickly turned on our weather radio, Midland, and made sure we had the necessary items to take with us to our basement. Now our basement is not what you probably envisioned. It has a nice door in the laundry room with stairs leading to the unfinished rather dug out basement that is used strictly for storage….until this particular evening.

We kept watching and listening to the awful damage that was taking place just west of us in Alabama. There appeared to be several large cells pushing east. Several times the tornado sirens went off warning us that a tornado had been spotted and then around 10:00 we saw a huge weather cell heading through LaFayette, Alabama heading directly toward LaGrange. This cell contained more than one tornado. We gathered our “stuff” and the doggies and headed to the basement. Thank goodness we have a few chairs stored there and this area has electricity…..which we miraculously never lost. There we waited for several hours until the worse passed us and the warning was lifted to a watch.

What an awful night!

It wasn’t until Thursday that we were aware of the damage that occurred in south Troup County (LaGrange). We also heard there was damage in parts of Harris County (Pine Mountain, FDR and Callaway area) as well as Manchester and Warm Springs. We aren’t sure to what extent at this time. Of course nothing can hold a candle to the damage and devastation in Tuscaloosa, Birmingham and other areas of Alabama, northern Georgia, Tennessee and some areas of Mississippi.

So many lives lost and so many lost everything they owned….such a terrible thing! Let us remember all those in our thoughts and prayers.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

This evening we were blessed with a visit from Randy & Terry. They are on their way to Pennsylvania, and stopped by for dinner and fellowship and boon docked at Walmart. Gerri & I picked them up so they wouldn’t have to unhitch and brought them to our house for dinner and visit time. After we ate we sat and talked about old and new times. We haven’t seen them for a little over a year but with friends like Terri & Randy, it was if it was just yesterday. Before we knew it, we had talked until about 11 pm and they needed to get back to their rig to get some sleep. WOW, it’s sooo nice to have friends like these…thanks Randy & Terry.

Saying “See You Down the Road” was hard because we really enjoy their friendship and we know it will be several months before we see them again.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

It is Easter Sunday and so we started our day rather early. That sound we haven’t heard in a long time sounded at 5:40 this morning…the alarm on the phone. We were going to the Sunrise Service at Callaway Gardens Resort and it started at a little after 7 am. The service was held on the lawn outside the Gardens Restaurant overlooking Mountain Creek Lake and the par 3 hole on Lakeview Course.

It was early and you could see the fog coming off the lake in the background and you could hear a wide variety of birds singing in the background. What a grand place to hold the Sunrise Service…surrounded by nature.

We sang a couple of songs and then the minister brought a refreshing message about the resurrection of our Lord. I cannot begin to express the beauty of the morning and the message given in such a peaceful and nature surrounded area.

After the service, we went to the Waffle House and enjoyed a tasty breakfast together. When we got back home we all flaked out on the patio and fell asleep. The rest of the day we just relaxed and took it easy.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

We have been staying busy but nothing overly exciting! We have enjoyed our backyard so much this spring. Since this was our first spring we weren’t sure what to expect. It appears the owner before the ones we purchased from really enjoyed plants and we have enjoyed watching the spring show of color. We discovered a daffodil garden on one side of the yard with a fern garden sitting right in the middle. We counted 10 to15 large mature azaleas scattered around the entire area. Among the azaleas are forsythias, snowball bushes, oak leaf hydrangeas and regular hydrangeas. There are three huge mature hardwood trees that offer wonderful shade and three tall

Japanese Cedars along with several dogwood trees and a few crepe myrtles. There is a separation between the small grass area right off the patio and the natural area which is the remaining yard.

All that sounds great but the part I didn’t mention was the previous owners were older and for about 11 years didn’t touch the area. Needless to say we have been uncovering many hidden treasures.

One such treasure was a concrete slab at the back of the property with a brick laid area right beside it. We couldn’t figure out what this originally might have been until we asked a long time neighbor… it was.a greenhouse. Today it is a sitting area! We also noticed a natural path that went from the patio/grass area through the azaleas right up to it. The only thing we needed to do was clear it out and tweak it a bit. Now we have a nice place to sit and observe nature and enjoy!!

Ivy is the new Kudzu….yep we have ivy growing everywhere and it is so invasive!! So we continue to work on the containing of the ivy and removing the ivy from areas we wish it to NOT be. Keeps Mike plenty busy!!

Good news…..Mike’s sugar is staying in the normal range!! We are so hoping this means this issue is under control. Now we continue to tackle the PSA and kidney stones. We appreciate your continued support and prayers.

Our friends are beginning to start their summer travels so we wish you all safe travels and many wonderful memories. We’ll be following along with you until we are able to return to the journey!! Stay safe!!

Friday, April 1, 2011

As some of you know, Mike’s brother’s grandson, Hunter Jones was diagnosed with leukemia in August of 2010. Hunter was 6 years old at that time. His type of leukemia (PRE-Ball) was serious and placed him in a lower margin of survival. He began the horrible ritual of tests, chemo and radiation that would eventually lead him to a bone marrow transplant. I can only imagine how painful and scary all those trips to Vanderbilt were to him.

It was discovered that his sister, Ronin, was a perfect match and so he was scheduled for a bone marrow transplant November 23rd. Once the transplant was done there was the 100 days of waiting. Waiting….waiting! We found out recently that Hunter has 100% of his sister’s bone marrow. He is leukemia free!!!! What a blessing.

On March 10th Hunter celebrated his 7th birthday and now looks forward to many many more happy birthdays. He now goes to the hospital every other week and each day he is returning to his “normal” routine as a seven year old.

The pic of Hunter is on his birthday and he is still puffed from all the steroids he was given to assist in his recovery.

Thanks to all of you for your concern and prayers during this horrible ordeal. So much for such a young fellow to go through but Hunter has done well and is still smiling and looking forward to a happy childhood.

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About Us

Gerri and I were married in 1982 and have dreamed of full-timing for quite some time. September, 2009 we began our fulltime adventure. In December 2016 we re-entered the full-time lifestyle but now in our New Oliver travel Trailer. We want to see the beauties of God's creation whether they be grand sights or plain simple beauties. To see and experience the lifestyles of the different areas of our country. God is good!